VIDALIA &045;&045; A new show is coming to town as the Vidalia Fire Department will introduce a new festival &045;&045; Vidalia Vittles and Fiddles.

This year, the festival features a gumbo cook-off &045;&045; the vittles &045;&045; and a bluegrass music from area entertainers &045;&045; the fiddles.

One cook-off will be between individuals and one between local fire departments, and 11 entertainers have committed to perform, including the Harrigills from Vidalia.

The festival is scheduled for April 17 on the south end of the Riverview RV Park.

&uot;We want to make this an annual event,&uot; said Ben Adams, Vidalia assistant fire chief. &uot;Hopefully it will grow and catch on.&uot;

The fire department will use money earned at the festival to pay for a new training facility for the department and for other local departments and law enforcement to use.

&uot;There has always been a need for (a training facility) but we’ve come to a point, with the growth of Vidalia and the fire department, of need for constant training,&uot; Vidalia Fire Chief Jack Langston said.

The festival is something Langston thinks all Vidalians will enjoy. &uot;Bring the family and your lawn chairs for a day of wholesome family fun,&uot; Langston said.

The theme of the festival and cook-off might change from year to year, Langston said, but could also stay a bluegrass festival, depending on the success. There will be vendors at the festival as well and Langston encouraged any interested businesses or other vendors to contact him to sign up. The Vidalia Women’s Club, Vidalia Police Department, employees of the Riverview RV Park and individuals in the community are helping the fire department with the festival.